Donald Hales

2003 Effingham County Sports Hall of Fame Inductee

Donald Hales was born on May 30, 1932 in Meldrim, Georgia. He graduated from Marlow Consolidated High School in 1950, where he excelled in both basketball and baseball.

After graduation, he served a brief time in the U.S. Army. Upon his return to Effingham County, he also returned to the game he loved most, baseball. He played in leagues in Effingham County until 1963. Donald began his coaching career in 1967, where he was assistant coach for the Meldrim Little League. In 1968, his first year as head coach, he led his boys to the county championship. He continued coaching boy’s baseball until 1972.

Donald began coaching girl’s softball in 1973. In his first year as a softball coach, the Meldrim midget girls took 2^nd place and he was the assistant coach for the county All Star Team, where they captured 2^nd place in District GRPA.

In 1974, he led the Meldrim Midget Girls to their 1^st undefeated season, with 4 consecutive undefeated seasons to follow through 1978. Each of the 5 years Donald was head coach of the Effingham County All Star team he won several District championships and a State Championship in 1976.

In 1979, he assisted George Ulmer in coaching the Senior Girls All Star Team, where another State Championship was won. He continued coaching until 1982.

Donald resides in Meldrim with his wife, Audrey Rahn Hales. He has three daughters, Lynnette, Carolyn, and Julie, and three grandchildren, Brett, Bo, and Bridgett.